Dewey Beach aims high with fireworks display

Dewey Beach — Hundreds of people squeezed into Northbeach and stood shoulder-to-shoulder watching Dewey Beach’s first Fourth of July fireworks display.

Highway One Partnership, which owns Northbeach, Ivy, Rusty Rudder and Bottle and Cork, sponsored the 10-minute show, which included music and a giant laser.

The music was muffled, but the fireworks – which were set off from two barges in Rehoboth Bay – were almost close enough to hear a sizzle as the sparks fell from the sky and hit the water below.

Zoe Waller of Rockville, Md., secured a corner table on the water at Northbeach to watch the show. “The scenery is gorgeous,” she said. “The sunset was wonderful.”

Waller said it was her first time visiting Dewey Beach. “My friends brought me,” she said.

The display could be seen throughout town, even on the oceanside of Route 1. Jimmy O’Conor, owner of Woody’s East Coast Bar and Grill, said customers could see the fireworks from the patio at Woody’s.

O’Conor also said his restaurant was busier than previous years. “The fireworks brought people into town,” he said. “There’s definitely more families here.”

The fireworks were set off at the same time Rehoboth Beach’s firework display began. Highway One Partner John Snow said he hired the same company as Rehoboth Beach, Zambelli Fireworks, which hails from Snow’s hometown of New Castle, Pa.

Before the show, Snow said he contacted Guinness Book of World Records, hoping to set a record for the most fireworks launched in the shortest amount of time. Snow could not be reached to comment on whether Highway One set the record.

Snow also said he is already planning to have fireworks again next year.